"The new jail should cost in the neighborhood of $25,000 and the money to pay for it should be collected by a direct levy of 20 cents on the $100 was the sentiment of the mass meeting of Audrain County citizens Friday afternoon at the Court House. Before the meeting adjourned a committee was appointed to confer with the County Court concerning the plans for the building. Each township in the county had a representative on his committee. A number of the speakers expressed regret over Judge Alexander Carter's illness and wished him an early recovery. Judge John Beagles, of the County Court, presided. He stated, in taking the chair, that he believed the people were opposed to a bond issue and favored a direct levy. Judge Beagles added we wanted a jail that would fill all requirements for years to come and evidence his progressive ideas for the County's betterment."

50 Years Ago

""Bargain hunters were out early today with their sights set on Dead Duck values being offered by 28 Mexico merchants today and tomorrow, and they were knocking them down to a good advantage. Several of the stores remarked that they had more customers this morning than the past three days of the week and were expecting more tonight and tomorrow. 'If you have not been in to shop you are missing the best money-saving event of the New Year,' says the Dead Duck editor. 'The Dead Ducks are still flying and waiting for you to bag them.'... Walter G. Staley of Mexico has been reappointed chairman of the Missouri Cancer Crusade, it has been announced by Charles E. Lockhart of Springfield, president of the Missouri Division. This will be Mr. Staley's third year as head of the fund-raising campaign in the state. Mr. Staley has been associated with the Missouri Division since 1950 when he became a director of the organization, and he has been active in its work since. He served as chairman of the executive committee during the span of 1953-56, is presently a member of the executive committee as well as the board. Mr. Staley has been a director of the A.P. Green Fire Brick Co. of Mexico since 1936 and a vice president since 1946. He is past president of the Associated Industries of Missouri. As Crusade chairman, he will give direction to the organization of the April fund-raising and educational Crusade of the Division."

25 Years Ago

"Several former Mexico High School students returned to their alma mater Sunday for the rededication of the building. On Jan. 23, of last year, a group of students, staff and community members got together and decided to have a 60th anniversary for MHS. The purpose of the anniversary was to make students of today and the community aware of the qualities of the architecturally unique school building and the educational history. Kathy Craghead, chairman, along with her committee, put in a lot of work and effort for the weekend celebration. Sunday's celebration began with the Rev. Jerry Ostrom president of the Mexico Ministerial Alliance, giving the invocation. Ed Ferguson, superintendent of schools, welcomed the former students and friends. Darriel Douglas, assistant principal at MHS introduced the board of education members: William S. Hilton, president; Al Tangora, vice president; Dr. Richard Schmidtke, treasurer; Ann Decker, James Quinlan, Dr. Marvin Elwood Rice; and Fran Sutton, secretary of the board. The guest speaker was William S. Hilton. Mr. Hilton came to MHS in 1961 after graduating from the University of Missouri. He taught at MHS from 1961-66. In 1966, he left the teaching vocation to go to work for the A.P. Green Co. In his opening statement, Mr. Hilton said, 'this is a very important and very significant occasion and I'm glad to be participating in it.' He explained that even back in the 1920s, decisions that were made, were not necessarily met with the full and wholehearted support of the community. He told how the site of the new building was not the most popular decision. Mrs. J.W. Buffington served as chairman of the committee to ensure the passage of a bond issue in the amount of $300,000 in 1926. The tract was developed into a 10-acre site for the building and campus; five acres for a football field and track area; five acres for tennis courts, baseball and outdoor basketball courts."

Page 2 of 2 - 10 Years Ago

"With possible radical changes to the North Central Missouri Conference currently in discussion, many Mexico coaches and administrators say they are ready for a change. 'Times change, and I think it might be time for us to do something different,' said Mexico High School head football coach Todd Berck. Some coaches say that being in a conference like NCMC is a double edged sword. It is widely considered one of the top conferences of the state and 'if you do win or finish high in the conference that means you're one of the elite schools in the state' according to MHS track coach Mitch Ridgway. But on the other hand, it's getting increasingly difficult for some of the schools in the conference to win. 'There is a gap between the small and big schools, and I definitely see it widening,' said Berck. The gap is the result of enrollment trends in the eight schools in the NCMC. When the bulk of the current schools joined the conference in the late '70s and early '80s, the enrollment of the schools were similar. But now Columbia Rock Bridge, which has exploded in enrollment in recent years has almost 2,000 students, while at the other end of the spectrum, Moberly has less than 700. Mexico falls somewhere on the lower run of the conference with about 800 students."

The Yesterday In Mexico column is published daily in The Mexico Ledger.